# Tony Pulis on British football bonding

> How Tottenham's pre-season trip to Spain mirrors Tony Pulis's old Blackpool bonding rituals.
- Title: Tony Pulis on British football bonding · BBC Sport | Shortify
- Summary: How Tottenham's pre-season trip to Spain mirrors Tony Pulis's old Blackpool bonding rituals. Tony Pulis recalls how British players bonded through beer and…
- Keywords: tony pulis, blackpool beach, spain, tottenham hotspur, roberto de zerbi, pre-season training, football bonding, beer, blackpool, pre-season, tottenham, sports
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjr4yndrz1kro
- Published: 2026-10-19T06:23:48.879+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: tony pulis, blackpool beach, spain, tottenham hotspur, roberto de zerbi, pre-season training, football bonding, beer, blackpool, pre-season, tottenham, sports
## Tottenham's pre-season trip
Tottenham's manager Roberto de Zerbi took players to Spain for team bonding after their poor start to the season.
## Bonding through shared time
De Zerbi used the warm-weather camp to build team morale and understand individual strengths and weaknesses.
## New players' integration
Spurs added 10 players this summer, requiring time to bond with new teammates.
## Pulis's Blackpool days
Pulis spent three days in Blackpool as a player, training on the beach and drinking beer after training.
## Bonding in the 1970s
In the 1970s and 1980s, British players drank heavily during matches and after games to bond.
## Modern team bonding
Today, Premier League clubs use hotels and facilities to bond players, avoiding the rougher methods of the past.
## No mobile phones
Pulis had no mobile phones during his playing days, which helped players connect without distractions.
## Army camps
Pulis took teams to army camps for physical and mental challenges, including underwater swimming.
## Austria trips
Pulis preferred Austria for pre-season training, staying in a historic castle with pools and gyms.
## The Blackpool incident
Pulis's team borrowed a bus to go to a pub after a rest day in Austria, leading to a secret plot to monitor them.
## Manchester City's issue
Manchester City faced Premier League financial rule violations, casting a shadow over their Champions League game.
## Modern bonding challenges
Modern players need new ways to bond without alcohol, as drinking risks increase with mobile phones.
## The bonding legacy
Pulis believes the old-school bonding methods created stronger team relationships than today's approaches.
## What happens next
Manchester City's financial issues continue to affect their performance and reputation in the Premier League.
## The story's turn
Pulis's column compares past and present team bonding methods, highlighting the shift from beer to structured training.
## Key takeaway

Tony Pulis recalls how British players bonded through beer and Blackpool beach in the 1970s, contrasting it with modern team-building methods.